Florida Is Penalizing 2 Counties Over Their Mask Mandates, Defying A Judge’s Ruling

Enlarge this image

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the opening of a monoclonal antibody site Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in Pembroke Pines, Fla. DeSantis has sought to block schools from requiring masks for students.

Marta Lavandier/AP

hide caption

toggle caption

Marta Lavandier/AP

Back To School: Live Updates
Florida Judge Throws Out Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Order Prohibiting School Mask Mandates

«What’s unacceptable is the politicians who have raised their right hands and pledged, under oath, to uphold the Constitution but are not doing so. Simply said, elected officials cannot pick and choose what laws they want to follow,» Corcoran stated.

It’s unclear if others counties will be penalized

Local reports indicate that several other school districts have implemented mask mandates, including Orange, Duval, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Sarasota, Palm Beach, Indian River and Leon Counties. It is unclear whether school board members in those counties will also have their pay withheld.

The bitter fight is playing out as a rash of COVID-19 infections sweeps across Florida, including among children who are not eligible for vaccination. On Monday, officials reported 18,608 new cases.

Back To School: Live Updates
Florida Gives Schools 48 Hours To Do Away With Their Mask Mandates — Or Lose Funding

DeSantis’s opposition stems from the lack of parental control. He argues that under existing Florida law, parents must be free to opt-out of student mask requirements. However, the rules in place in Alachua and Broward counties only allow for a medical exemption from a doctor.

DeSantis, who barred the mask mandates on July 30, warned that «there will be consequences» for districts that defied the ban.

A judge said DeSantis’ order lacked authority

But on Friday, following a four-day trial, Judge John Cooper ruled in favor of parents who sued, arguing DeSantis overstepped his authority in forbidding the face covering requirement and said it cannot be enforced. He noted that face mask mandates that follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are «reasonable and consistent with the best scientific and medical opinion in this country.»

Coronavirus Updates
Some Florida School Districts Will Require Masks. The Governor May Cut Their Funding

Cooper also added that DeSantis’ order «is without legal authority.»

DeSantis is appealing the decision and on Monday called Cooper’s ruling «obviously problematic.»

• school mask mandate
• Gov. Ron DeSantis
• Florida